A love letter competition was officially launched at Peking University, China’s top educational institute at 10am, 2 June 2013 (Beijing time).Contestants who submit their own love letter or that of their relatives stand a chance to win prizes worth USD 16,000. The total reward of the competition reached USD32,000.
This romance-themed competition was initiate by ZBJ Network INC. & Pengshui County, Chongqing. Pengshui is a small county located near the Wu River, with breathtaking scenery and hospitable local residents. Known to the Chinese netizens as the Best Healing Place for Love, it has helped many people who have had their heart broken in romance to recover from the experience and to restore their faith in love.

Co-organisers of the competitions include http://www.zhubajie.com, Beijing Time Fragments New Media Co., HKSTV, Chongqing Evening Paper, and Chongqing City Paper.

The considerable interest shown by the media in this competition comes from the results of a recent online survey conducted in China, where 90% of respondents claimed that they no longer wrote love letters. Analysis of the survey results shows that the cause might be attributed to the development of the internet, which allows people to express their love through messages or microblogs instead of love letters. A competition that focuses on love letters is a way to bring back the memories of the old-fashioned way of true love.

Outside China, the same pattern can be observed in North America and Europe as well, where most people prefer to express their love through the internet rather than through love letters.

For love letters written in Chinese, submissions are to be made on http://www.zhubajie.com. For love letters written in languages other than Chinese, submissions are to be made on http://www.witmart.com. The hosting organization has expressed that they welcome love letters written in English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish or any other language. The contestant with the most romantic love letter will win a reward worth ¥100,000 (about USD 16,000)

It is learnt that 108 of the submitted love letters will be sent over to Pengshui, where they will be carved on wooden pieces that hang along a corridor. This will become the first Love Corridor in China. In addition, these love letters will be published in a book entitled the Best Love Letters.

ZBJ Network INC. has stated that some of the stories behind the love letters might be woven into a plot, which will be made into a micromovie to be shown on Chinese television as well as over the internet.

The competition is a one-of-a-kind event that is filled with love and fun. Anyone interested in taking part in the competition can start looking for their past love letters, or start writing one now.